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July`12, 193.2. H, L, WALTER 2,123,264

' DISPLAY SPACER Filed Aug. 2o, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 12, 1938. H. L. WALTER DISPLAY SPACER Filed Aug. zo, 1957 l 2 sheetssheet 2 Patented `Iuly 12, 1938 PATENT rOFFICE DISPLAY SPACER Harry L. Walter, University City, Mo., assignor to Ely & Walker Dry Goods-Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation oi Missouri Application August 20, 1937, Serial No. 160,064

15 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to store furniture and fixtures and is concerned more particularly with partition equipment .for subdividing the top of a counter or table into a plurality of compartmentsfor display of merchandise.

My invention has for its primary object the provision of new and improved counter-top subdividing means which is exceptionally economical in construction, operation, and maintenance, which provides an unusually rigid and firm partition mounting, which is unusually Well adapted to `adjustment in a wide variety of partition- `positions for the provision of a large variety of differently sized and shaped bins and trays,

which is exceptionally close fitting and designed to minimize the danger of partition breakage,

and which is otherwise exceptionally eicient in `the performance of its stated functions.

And with the aboveand other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of formyconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts Ypresently described and .pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) Figure lfis a perspective view of a counter-top provided with partitioning means Yconstructed in `accordance with and embodying my present invention; f

Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary perspective views of the xed or base elements of my present invention Figure 4 is a perspective view of a movable element of my present invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of a selected partition arrangement,V showing in more detail the operation of my present invention; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of my present invention, taken approximately along the line 6 6, Figure l.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my present invention, A designates a counter or merchandise table preferably of rectilinear design and constructed `in any conventional manner. The table A is provided with an upstandingmarginal rim I dis- -posed around and co-operating with a table top or counter sham 2, as itis sometimes called, in

the provision `of a shallow upwardly presented recess or bin B.

Provided for disposition, either removably or permanently, upon the upper face of the counter -sham-Z, is a` -pair of=end stripsor basermembers fcountersunk apertures or screw holes 5 disposed 1f;

'the channel web 6, as best seen in Figure 2 and `intermediate strips or base members 9 each being `similarly rolled or otherwise fabricated from a `wardly from the plane of the under face of the "3,9, is a plurality of partition-supporting memrolled or otherwise suitably formed preferably from a fiat strip of relatively rigid metal and having a 'longitudinally extending U-shaped ychannel 4 provided with a plurality of aligned vision of slots 8, and having its under face spaced upwardly from the plane of the under face of for` purposes presently more fully appearing. 15

Also `provided for disposition, either vremovably or permanently, flatwise upon the upper face `of the counter sham `2, is a plurality of thin substantially rigid metallic strip and hav- `ing Va central longitudinally extending U-shaped channel IU provided with a plurality of aligned countersunk apertures or holes Il disposed in its flat or bottom web portion I2 and being further provided along each of its opposed margins with a plurality of uniformly spaced pairs of transversely aligned preferably rectangular anges I3, the under faces of the flanges being spaced upchannel web I2, and the transverse edges of the flangesI being each spaced uniformly from each other by a predetermined distance in the provision of slots I4. Thus both the flanges I3 and the slots I4 are similar in size, shape, and arrangement to the flanges-'I and the slots 8 of the end strip 3. The end or terminal anges I3' are provided with integrally formed extensions I3, the inwardly presented edges of which are W transversely spaced from each other so as to pro- 40 vide an end slot I4', all as best seen in Figure 3V and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

`Provided for co-operation with the base strips ,545

bers I5 somewhat resembling in shape an in- -verted T and having a flat base I6 preferably integrally provided centrally of its upper face with a perpendicularly upstanding sidewise presented U-shaped channelelement I'I. It should $50 be. `'pointed `out in this connection that the transverse over-al1 Width :c of the upstanding channel I6 is preferably equal to the width of the flanges 1, I3, and the thickness of the base element is substantially equal to the distance between the under faces of the anges 1, I3, and the under face of the web portions 6, I2, of the channels 4, I, respectively, so that the partition-supporting members I may be slid into any one of the selected slots 8, I4, and under the adjacent portions of the flanges 1, I3.

It should be noted in this connection that the width of the strip-channels 4, IU, and the size of the partition-supporting members I5 may preferably, though not necessarily, be determined by the thickness of the particular partition members which may be used, so that the partitions may be snugly disposed in edgewise tight fitting relationship therein.

In actual use, the end strips 3 are rigidly mounted as by screws or other suitable attachment means flatwise upon the counter sham 2 adjacent the margins thereof, so that the flanges 1 extend inwardly toward the center of the sham 2. A suitable number. of margin posts I8 are then rigidly mounted on the counter sham 2 in the corners and in such intermediate positions as may be desired for'supporting a plurality of marginal partitions I9 preferably formed of plate glass, as best seen in Figure 1, in which the downwardly presented lengthwise edges of the end partitions, as at a, will be disposed in close fitting edgewise engagement in the channel 4 of the end strip 3.

An intermediate strip 9 is then provided at each of its end slots with a partition-supporting member I5 and is mounted flatwise upon the upper face of the counter sham 2 in parallelism with, and at any desired distance from, the end strip 3. It will, of course, be apparent in this connection that the length of the intermediate strip is such as to fit snugly between the inner faces of the two opposed marginal partitions I9 and is furthermore so designed that the slots I4 thereof. will be in longitudinal alignment with the corresponding slots 8 of the end strip 3. A suitable plate glass partition member may then be disposed transversely between the two partition-supporting members I5 with its downwardly presented lengthwise edge snugly disposed in the channel III. A pair of partition-supporting members I5 may then be placed in opposed relationship in a selected pair of aligned slots for rigidly receiving and supporting an intermediate partition panel 20, all as best seen in Figures 1 and 5.

Since the partition-supporting members I5 are designed to t under the flanges 1 and I1 of the end and intermediate strip members 3, 9, the stresses imposed on the glass partition supported thereby will be communicated directly to the counter sham 2 rather than the strips 3 and 5, thereby eliminating any wear or distortion thereof and more rigidly and effectively supporting the partition. Furthermore, it will be noted that the individual partitions are each supported both along their lateral faces as well as their transverse edges by the partition-supporting elements I5 and do not depend for rigidity upon frictional contact between the respective edges and faces of the partitions, thus eliminating any danger of grinding or twisting one partition against the other with resultant breakage. Furthermore, by my present invention, I haveprovided partitionsupporting means which is readily and quickly adjustable and from which the partitions may be conveniently and easily removed without necessarily dismantling the entire counter arrangement.

It should be understood that changes and modications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the display fixture may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a base strip having a longitudinal channel and a plurality of atwise extending spaced anges, the under faces of which are disposed in a plane spaced upwardly from the plane of the under face of. the channel, and means engageable with the anges having an upwardly-presented socket for edgewise receiving and supporting a selected partition.

2. A counter-display partition-support comprising in combination, a base strip having a longitudinal channel and a plurality of flatwise extending uniformly spaced flanges, the under faces of which are disposed in a plane spaced upwardly from the plane of the under face of. the channel, and means engageable with the fianges having an upwardly presented socket for edgewise receiving and supporting a selected partition.

3. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a plurality of flatwise extending spaced ilanges, and a pair of rigid walled socket members each engageable with the flanges of one of the strips and having an upwardly presented recess for supportingly engaging a selected partition.

e. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a plurality of flatwise extending uniformly spaced transversely aligned angcs, and a pair of rigid-walled socket members each engageable with the iianges of one of the strips and having an upwardly presented recess for supportingly engaging a selected partition.

prising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a plurality of flatwise extending transversely aligned spaced flanges, and a pair of upstanding rigid-walled socket members each having a pair of outwardly extending flat ears respectively engageable beneath consecutive flanges of one of the strips and having an upwardly presented recess for supportingly engaging a selected partition.

6. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a plurality of flatwise extending spaced flanges, and a pair of laterally aligned rigid walled socket members having a 245 5. A counter-display partition-support comtransverse width substantially equal to the distance between the opposed edges of consecutive flanges for fitting snugly therebetween, each of said socket members being engageable with the flanges of one of the strips vand having an upwardly presented recess for supportingly engaging a selected partition disposed transversely between the socket members.

"1. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each havinga longitudinally extending channel and a plurality of outwardly extending spaced marginal anges disposed in a plane above the plane of the channel bottom, upstanding means disposed at each channel end having an porting an intermediate partition with its bot-- tom edge in the plane of the bottom edge of the selected partition.

8. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a longitudinally extending channel and a plurality of outwardly extending spaced marginal flanges, upstanding means disposed at each channel-end having an inwardly and upwardly presented socket in alignment with the channel for supportingly receiving a selected partition in lengthwise marginal engagement in the channel, and means engageable with the ilanges having an upwardly presented socket for edgewise receiving and supporting a second selected partition.

9. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a longitudinally extending channel and a plurality of outwardly extending spaced marginal flanges, upstanding means disposed at each channel end having an inwardly and upwardly presented socket in alignment with the channel for supportingly receiving aV selected partition in lengthwise marginal engagement in the channel, and a pair of laterally aligned socket members each engageable with the flanges of one of the strips and having an upwardly presented recess for supportingly engaging a second selected partition disposed transversely between the socket members.

10. A counter-display partition-support cornprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a longitudinally extending channel and a plurality of outwardly extending spaced marginal flanges,v said flanges having their under faces spaced upwardly from the plane of the under face of the channel portion, upstanding means disposed at each channel end having an inwardly and upwardly presented socket in alignment with the channel for supportingly receiving a selected partition in lengthwise marginal engagement in the channel, and means engageable with the iianges having laterally extended flat base flanges for snug-fitting disposition beneath the anges, said means further having an upwardly presented socket for edgewise receiving and supporting a second selected partition.

11. A display counter comprising, in combination, aV shallow upwardly presented flat bottomed bin, a series of aligned base strips mounted flatwise on the bin-bottom and having a plurality of flatwise extending spaced flanges positioned parallel to and spaced from the bin-bottom, and means co-operatively engageable between the flanges and the bin-bottom and having an upwardly presented socket for edgewise receiving and supporting a selected partition.

12. A display counter comprising, in combination, a shallow upwardly presented bin, a counter sham disposed flatwise in the bin, a series of parallel aligned base strips mounted ilatwise on the upper face of the sham and having a plurality of flatwise extending spaced ilanges positioned parallel to and spaced upwardly from the sham, and means co-operatively engageable between the flanges and the sham and having upwardly presented sockets for edgewise receiving and supporting opposite ends of a selected partition.

13. A display counter comprising, in combination, a shallow upwardly presented bin, a counter sham disposed flatwise in the bin, a series of parallel aligned base strips mounted atwise on the upper face of the sham and having a plurality of flatwise extending spaced flanges positioned parallel to and spaced upwardly from the sham, and means co-operatively engageable between a ,pair of adjacent selected anges and the sham and having upwardly extending socket members for edgewise receiving and supporting opposite ends of a selected partition, said socket member being exteriorly sized for snug fitting engagement between the opposed transverse margins of the selected flanges.

14. In a device for supporting a plurality of display-partitioning means in adjoining relationship, a display-partition supporting base-rail having an upwardly presented longitudinal channel sized for edgewise receiving a selected display partition and having a plurality of outwardly extending uniformly spaced marginal anges adapted to receive and support intermediate display-partitioning means in edgewise abutting angularly disposed relation to the selected partition.

15. A counter-display partition-support comprising, in combination, a pair of opposed parallel strips each having a plurality of outwardly extending spaced marginal anges, said iianges having their under faces spaced upwardly from the plane of the under face of the strip, and means engageable with the flanges of one strip and having laterally extended flat base-anges for snug tting position beneath the flanges, said means further having an upwardly presented socket and being in transverse alignment with a similar corresponding means likewise engageable with the flanges of the other strip for edgewise receiving and supporting therebetween a selected partition.

HARRY L. WALTER. 

